. >>> and the transportation department will be seeking the maximum penalty against toyota. it wants 16.3 $million for some coming fast enough about defective gas pedals. that is the largest civil penalty ever issued against an automaker. that's it from cnbc. now back to "hardball." >>> welcome back to "hardball." nearing the 90th birthday, supreme court justice john paul stevens gave interview this is weekend that put him on the cover of both "the new york times" and "the washington post." on sunday, not so subtle indication that he is planning to retire and give president obama yet another chance to fill a vacancy on the supreme court. stevens told "washington post," quote, i can tell you that i love the job and deciding whether to leave sit a very difficult decision but i want to make it in a way that's best for the court. justice stevens wants what's best for the court but how tough a fight will president obama have this time around with republicans in congress? ron christie, republican strategist. and willie brown, former mayor of san francisco and former speaker of the